Acting Health Director Maria Richardson addresses cloud of controversy surrounding the Trenton Animal shelter at city council meeting and more!

Recreation, Natural, Resources and Culture Director Maria Richardson who is also the Acting Director for the Health & Human Services Department finally had her day in front of city council to respond to the cloud of controversy hanging over the Trenton animal shelter. Richardson’s previous presentation before council was postponed due to illness. 

On September 26, 2023 nine volunteers were let go from the shelter citing inappropriate conduct. The animal shelter has been cited for being overcrowded, poorly managed, and for backtracking on its promise to be a no-kill shelter. 

When Richardson stepped to the podium she appeared cool, calm, and collected as she addressed city council. Richardson told the council that the animal shelter currently has 96 dogs in its care and the idea of the facility being a no-kill shelter is a “fantasy.”

Currently, the city is paying $75,000 a month in fines for being out of compliance with the State of New Jersey, which exceeds the $60,000 budget allotted for senior services in Trenton. 

When it came to public comment, many of the animal shelter former volunteers expressed outrage for being let go from their positions without justification. The question was raised by Councilwoman Jennifer Williams on what could be done to mitigate the illegal dumping of dogs by  residents from other counties into areas in Trenton such as Duck Island. Police Director, Steve Wilson, advised that certain areas in the city would have to be set up for electricity to install cameras to catch perppetrators.

Other points of interest at last night’s meeting was the proposal of an 84 unit one and two bedroom apartment building located at 28 West State Street. The property is known as the Trust building and it sits vacant with the exception of PSE&G which occupies the first floor and mezzanine. 

“Note [2024] is the 100 birthday of that building,” an attorney representing the developers told council. “The goal is to preserve the building [and] turn it into residential units, [and] preserve the PSE&G facility on the first floor, mezzanine. We think it will be transformational for the city and the downtown area and a real contribution to the community.” 

Councilwomen Jenna Figueroa Kettenberg, Crystal Feliciano, Jennifer Williams and Jasi Edwards posed some important questions regarding the ordinance authorizing the City of Trenton into a 10 year lease agreement for the city-owned property located at 27 Fell Street in Trenton to the Trenton Professional Old-Timers Association, a New Jersey non-profit corporation. “Why the price of $1? That seems overly generous, especially since we are a city that is scrapping for money in our couches,” Councilwoman Williams said, later adding, “good deeds or not [it] just seems very low to me.” The ordinance was pulled so the council could explore the ordinance in more detail and discuss the potential of conflict of interest because an officer with the non-profit is also a city employee who works in the public works department.

One thing I noticed as I arrived at City Hall for the city council meeting was the closed entrance to the parking lot, which is not an inviting gesture to the public who are encouraged to attend council meetings to increase civic engagement. Aside from the city hall department heads and animal shelter volunteers who spoke during the open comment portion, the meeting attendance was light and in stark contrast to when they were held online.

Giving the public the opportunity to engage in real-time will give Trentonians the opportunity to participate in local government. Not everyone has the time to sit through three hour meetings. Fortunately, I was told by a member of council that hybrid meetings are currently in the works. As of now, recordings of council meetings are available the day after the meeting on YouTube and you can view last night’s entire meeting by clicking here.